Know Before You Go – A Contractor’s Guide to Florida

With the winter seasonal slow-down on the horizon, many contractors in northern states are looking to head south to help the rebuilding effort in Florida in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

Community Insurance Group wants you to be aware of some of the requirements in order to avoid costly fines and penalties. Even if you hold a contractor’s license in your home state, here is some information you should know before heading to the Sunshine State:

You must pass Florida’s contractor exam. If your home state has its own written exam, you must be able to prove that it is substantially similar to Florida. If your home state does not require you to pass an exam, you’ll have to take the one in Florida.

You must register with the Florida Secretary of State before you can conduct business.

You must provide a bond. In lieu of providing a bond, you can provide a credit report and proof of financial responsibility.

Florida must be listed under Section 3A of the declarations page of your workers’ compensation policy. Florida does not accept coverage from other states.

You can only perform work for which you hold a license.

Be sure to check the county and local levels where you plan to work – they may have additional regulations. Florida conducts random contractor inspections, and out-of-state contractors are likely to be under extra scrutiny. Seek out the advice of your attorney and insurance professional to make sure all your bases are covered.

Additional Info

This post is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal or loss control advice. Not all exposures are identified in this article. Please contact us for coverage advice and risk management services.